On his own economically from the time he was twelve, he worked his way through school as a cowboy in the Sandhills of Nebraska during the summers and at whatever work he could find in town during each school year. In this, he was variously employed, sometimes simultaneously, as a telephone operator, messenger, store clerk, school janitor, printer’s devil, and truck driver. Later, he earned two years college credit through the U.S. Armed Forces Institute.

Crouch served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and with the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict . He was an administrator at the Hanford Site of the Atomic Energy Commission and successor agencies in Richland, Washington for 32 years; an independent strategic planning consultant assisting national and international organizations for 25 years; a councilmember for the City of Richland, Washington for eight years; and now, in retirement, a western and cowboy poet, author, and performer.

His interest in poetry began in the early 1940s with the encouragement of Charles Badger Clark, the classic cowboy poet who was then Poet Laureate of South Dakota, and shortly thereafter wrote his first prize-winning poem, “Cowboys.” When he was 73, following a 60 year hiatus, he started writing poetry and performing professionally throughout the Northwestern United States, including Wyoming.

He was inspired by three individuals: Will Rogers who was his hero during the early 1930s; Badger Clark, his 1940s acquaintance (cited above); and Sherman Alexie, a Native American poet, novelist, screen-writer and performer who, in 2001, encouraged him to return to writing poetry.

Crouch’s western books are published by Western Poetry Publications (an imprint of The Resource Network. a nonprofit, educational organization incorporated in 1981). Books are distributed commercially by Ingram Book Company and are available through internet and local booksellers internationally as well as instantly through the Espresso Book Machine which is positioned strategically in 50 locations around the world.

Poetry Publications by Clark Crouch

Poetic Images: the Great American West (editor of anthology) (2015)Ridin’ & Writin’ Vol. 2 (Reprint of Where Horses Reign and Sun, Sand & Soapweed) (2014)
Ridin’ & Writin’ Vol. 1 (Reprint of Western Images and Views from the Saddle) (2014)Prairie Knights: western & cowboy poetry (2014)Western Viewpoints: an anthology of western & cowboy poetry (editor) (2014)Thirty: Poems from The Country Register, 2004-2009 (2012)Harkin’ Home: cowboy poetry & western tales (foreword by Brian Crane, creator of the syndicated “Pickles” cartoon strip) (2010)Eight Viewpoints: western poetry (editor) (2009)Views from the Saddle: original western & cowboy poetry (foreword by Richard W. Slatta, Ph.D., professor of history at North Carolina State University) (2009)Western Images: western and cowboy poetry (2006)Sun, Sand & Soapweed: western and cowboy poetry (2005)Where Horses Reign: western poetry (2004)

Modern Poetry Books (Blank and Free form)

Poetic Reflections At The Creekside (editor of anthology) (2013)Rustic Ruminations: the collected primal free verse of Clark Crouch, 2002-03 (Reprint of Voices of the Wind and Reflections) (2012)Reflections: a second poetic journal of life, attitude, and remembrance (2003)Voices of the Wind: a poetic journal of life, attitude, and remembrance (2002)

Other Western and Cowboy Poetry Publications

Open Range Magazine (Featured American Cowboy Poet in first issue, June/July 2007, of this premier Western publication. Poems “Open Range” and “Killer”)